I read about these on a climbing forum, I'm not sure which one, and my friend is trying to source one for her trip from America.

Basically a lot of airlines have a stupid policy that allows golf clubs (or skis) on either for free or for a minimal extra charge to pander to that crowd despite the large weight and volume impost. Some companies have made bags that externally look and are labelled as golf bags but are actually don't have the internal partitions and can be used to carry other things.

i contacted an airline to confirm their policy on free shipping of sporting equipment to Austria. I was heading to Vienna in winter with my snowboard and was told that I could take golf clubs free but the snowboard was to be included in my check in allowance. I explained to them that all the golf courses in Austria at that time of year would be under several metres of snow and it would be difficult for me to get a round in. In the end the check in staff let me through with my board as the person looked at my snowboard in its Burton travel bag with wheels and said just pop your clubs on the oversize cart.

Brilliant idea!
I flew Emirates back from Europe yesterday and - since we'd both acquired skis during the visit - we were wondering about baggage limits and checked. For Emirates, golf clubs are allowed as extra but skis were included in the bag limits.

Fortunately we were only a few kg's over and they waived it (thanks) but I did discover a cute way around the airlines limits that would work on the way back if flying out of Munich and probably a few other places in Europe. Here it is:

Buy something during the trip and keep receipts. Ask for the "Global Blue" tax refund claim form when you purchase.

Keep some heavy items out of your packed luggage, but save some room for them in an easily-accessed compartment. Keep the purchased items in the same bag.

When you check in, advise them that you are claiming the tax exclusion for goods that you've bought while on holiday.

What they then do is weigh all of your bags, attach luggage tags but then ask you to transport your bags around to Customs (in the same hall) for tax refund inspection.

On your way there, add the items into your main bag.

At Customs, present your paperwork, and have the items inspected. They then load your bags onto a separate baggage carousel without being reweighed.